Method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor

ABSTRACT

A method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor. Initially, the resistor is provided, wherein the resistor has a length L and an electrical resistance R 1 . A portion of the resistor is exposed to a laser radiation, wherein the portion includes a fraction F of the length L of the resistor. After the resistor has been exposed to the laser radiation, the resistor has an electrical resistance R 2 , wherein R 2  is unequal to R 1 .

This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/693,765; filed on Oct. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,614

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention provides a method and structure for changing the electrical resistance of a resistor.

2. Related Art

A resistor on a wafer may have its electrical resistance trimmed by using laser ablation to remove a portion of the resistor. For example, the laser ablation may cut slots in the resistor. With existing technology, however, trimming a resistor by using laser ablation requires the resistor to have dimensions on the order of tens of microns, which is large enough to be compatible with the laser spot dimension and laser alignment. A method is needed to trim a resistor having dimensions at a micron or sub-micron level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor, comprising:

-   -   providing a resistor having a length L and a first electrical         resistance R₁; and     -   exposing a portion of the resistor to a laser radiation for a         time of exposure, wherein the portion of the resistor includes a         fraction F of the length L, wherein at an end of the time of         exposure the resistor has a second electrical resistance R₂, and         wherein R₂ is unequal to R₁.

The present invention provides an electrical structure, comprising:

-   -   a resistor having a length L and an electrical resistance R(t)         at a time t; and     -   a laser radiation directed onto a portion of the resistor,         wherein the portion of the resistor includes a fraction F of the         length L, and wherein the laser radiation heats the portion of         the resistor such that the electrical resistance R(t)         instantaneously changes at a rate dR/dt.

The present invention provides an electrical resistor of length L, comprising N layers denoted as layers 1, 2, . . . , N:

wherein a portion of the resistor includes a fraction F of the length L;

wherein N is at least 2;

wherein layer I includes an electrically conductive material M_(I) for I=1, 2, . . . , N;

wherein layer J is in electrically conductive contact with layer J+1 for J=1, 2, . . . , N−1; and

wherein a cell C_(K,K+1) couples a cell C_(K)′ of the layer K to a cell C_(K+1)′ of the layer K+1, wherein the cell C_(K)′ is within the portion of the resistor and includes the material M_(K), wherein the cell C_(K+1)′ is within the portion of the resistor and includes the material M_(K+1), wherein the cell C_(K,K+1) is within the portion of the resistor and includes an electrically conductive material M_(K,K+1) that comprises a chemical combination of the material M_(K) from the layer K and the material M_(K+1) from the layer K+1, and wherein K is selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and combinations thereof.

The present invention provides an electrical resistor of length L, comprising:

a first portion having a length L₁, wherein the first portion includes at least one cell having an electrically conductive material with a first structure; and

a second portion of length L₂ such that L₂=L−L₁, wherein the second portion includes a fraction F of the length L such that F=L₂/L, wherein the second portion includes a structured cell having the electrically conductive material with a second structure, and wherein the electrically conductive material with the second structure has resulted from a laser heating of the electrically conductive material with the first structure.

The present invention provides a method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor having dimensions at a micron or sub-micron level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a front cross sectional view of an electronic structure with laser radiation directed on a resistor, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a one-layer embodiment of the resistor of FIG. 1 prior to being irradiated with the laser radiation.

FIG. 3 depicts the one-layer embodiment of the resistor of FIG. 2 after being irradiated with the laser radiation.

FIG. 4 depicts a two-layer embodiment of the resistor of FIG. 1 prior to being irradiated with the laser radiation.

FIG. 5 depicts the two-layer embodiment of the resistor of FIG. 4 after being irradiated with the laser radiation.

FIG. 6 depicts a multi-layer embodiment of the resistor of FIG. 1 prior to being irradiated with the laser radiation.

FIG. 7 depicts the multi-layer embodiment of the resistor of FIG. 6 after being irradiated with the laser radiation.

FIG. 8 depicts the electronic structure of FIG. 1 after the resistor has been irradiated with the laser radiation and an electrical circuit element has been conductively coupled to the resistor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a front cross sectional view of an electronic structure 10, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The electronic structure 10 comprises a laser radiation 14 emitted from a laser source 12 and directed on a resistor 20 of length L in a direction 11. The laser radiation 14 is directed on the resistor 20 for a finite time duration (“time of exposure”). The laser radiation 14 includes a continuous laser radiation or a pulsed laser radiation.

For simplicity, FIG. 1 (as well as each of the other FIGS. 2-8) describes the resistor 20 on which the radiation 14 is directed as being characterized by a length L. Nonetheless, it should be understood that the radiation 14 may be directed on an area A of the resistor 20 as well as along the length L (or a fraction thereof). Accordingly, wherever in this detailed description a linear length L (or the fraction thereof) is referred to, it should be understood that the formulation is equally applicable to the area A (or the fraction thereof) in substitution for the length L (or a fraction thereof).

An interaction of the laser radiation 14 with the resistor 20 serves to induce a change in electrical resistance of the resistor 20 by heating the resistor 20. Such heating causes chemical or structural changes in the resistor 20, which results in an electrical resistance change. Thus, if the resistor 20 has an electrical resistance R₁ prior to exposure to the laser radiation 14, then the resistor 20 will have an electrical resistance R₂ after exposure to the laser radiation 14, wherein R₂ is unequal to R₁. R₁ and R₂ are related according to either R₂>R₁ or R₂<R₁, depending on the chemical or structural changes that occur in the resistor 20 as a consequence of the exposure to the laser radiation 14. The laser radiation 14 must be sufficiently energetic to provide the required heating of the resistor 20, and a minimum required energy flux of the laser radiation 14 depends on the material composition of the resistor 20. If the resistor 20 comprises a metal, then the present invention will be effective for a wide range of wavelengths of the laser radiation 14, since a metal is characterized by a continuum of energy levels of the conduction electrons rather than discrete energy levels for absorbing the laser radiation 14. Noting that the energy of a photon of the laser radiation 14 varies inversely with the wavelength of the photon (or equivalently of the laser radiation 14), the laser radiation 14 should be sufficiently focused so that the aforementioned energy flux requirement is satisfied.

A magnitude of the resistance change R₂−R₁ depends on the time of exposure, since as additional time elapses during the exposure of the resistor 20 to the laser radiation 14, additional chemical or structural changes occur in the resistor 20 resulting in additional changes in electrical resistance. After a sufficiently long time of exposure T to the laser radiation 14, essentially all of the matter in the resistor 20 capable of being chemically or structurally changed by exposure to the laser radiation 14 has indeed been so changed. Accordingly, if a fixed geometric portion of the resistor 20 is exposed to the laser radiation 14, the resistor 20 is said to have partially reacted if the time of exposure is less than T, and fully reacted if the time of exposure is at least T. If the resistor 20 has partially reacted, additional exposure of the resistor 20 to the laser radiation 14 changes the electrical resistance of the resistor 20 from R₂ to R₃ wherein R₃ differs from R₂. If the resistor 20 has fully reacted, additional exposure of the resistor 20 to the laser radiation 14 leaves the electrical resistance of the resistor 20 invariant at the value of R₂, or negligibly changes the electrical resistance of the resistor 20 from R₂ to R₃ wherein R₃ is about equal to R₂.

For notational purposes, let the resistor 20 be exposed to the laser radiation 14 from time t₁ to time t₂; i.e., during times t such that t₁≦t≦t₂. Further, let R(t) denote an instantaneous electrical resistance of the resistor 20 at time t, and let dR/dt denote an instantaneous time rate of change of R(t) at time t. Thus, R₁=R(t₁) and R₂=R(t₂). From the initial time t₁ until a threshold time t_(TH)<t₂, the resistor 20 is insufficiently heated to be chemically or structurally changed by the laser radiation 14. Thus during t₁≦t≦t_(TH), R(t) remains unchanged at the initial value R₁ (i.e., dR/dt=0). If t₂<T, then the resistor 20 has partially reacted during t_(TH)≦t≦t₂, such that R(t) either increases (i.e., dR/dt>0) or decreases (i.e., dR/dt<0). If t₂≧T, then the resistor 20 has partially reacted during t_(TH)≦t<T (i.e., dR/dt<0 or dR/dt>0) and is fully reacted during T≦t≦t₂ (i.e., dR/dt=0). In summary: if t₂<T, then the resistor 20 has partially reacted when exposure to the laser radiation 14 is terminated at time t₂ and dR/dt≠0 at t=t₂. In contrast, if t₂≧T, then the resistor 20 has fully reacted when exposure to the laser radiation 14 is terminated at time t₂ and dR/dt=0 at t=t₂.

The resistor 20 comprises a first portion 21 and a second portion 22. The laser radiation 14 is directed on the second portion 22, but not on the first portion 21. Thus, the laser radiation 14 will change an electrical resistance of the second portion 22 and will not change an electrical resistance of the first portion 21. The first portion 21 includes two separated blocks, designated as a block 71 of length L_(1A) and a block 73 of length L_(1B). The second portion 22 includes a block 72 of length L₂. The resistor 20 includes M layers (not shown in FIG. 1), and the blocks 71, 73, and 72 each include M cells (also not shown in FIG. 1), wherein M≧1. Although, FIG. 1 does not depict a layer structure with included cells for the resistor 20, FIGS. 2-3, 4-5, and 6-7 respectively depict a one-layer structure with included cells, a two-layer structure with included cells, and an N-layer (N≧2) structure with included cells, of the resistor 20.

Returning to FIG. 1, L, L_(1A), L_(1B), and L₂ are related according to L=L₁+L₂, wherein L₁=L_(1A)+L_(1B)L_(1A)and L_(1B) satisfy L_(1A)≧0 and L_(1B)≧0, respectively. The second portion 22 of the resistor 20 includes a fraction F of the length L that is exposed to the laser radiation 14, wherein F=L₂/L. Accordingly, F=1 if L_(1A)=L_(1B)=0, and F<1 if L_(1A)>0 or L_(1B)>0. Additionally, a spot dimension of the laser radiation 14 is no greater than a product of F and L and may be less than the product of F and L. A laser spot dimension is defined herein as a characteristic linear dimension of an intersection of a laser beam with a surface of a resistor. Thus, if the laser were to project a circle of radiation onto the resistor surface, than the laser spot dimension would be the magnitude of the diameter of the circle.

Based on preceding discussions and the allowable range of F, the following embodiments are within the scope of the present invention:

a) partially reacting the whole resistor 20 (t₂<T and F=1);

b) fully reacting the whole resistor 20 (t₂≧T and F=1);

c) partially reacting less than the whole resistor 20 (t₂<T and F<1); and

d) fully reacting less than the whole resistor 20 (t₂≧T and F<1).

Because of a precision with which the laser radiation 14 may be focused, the present invention is applicable to resistors having the length L (or more generally, a product of F and L) as small a laser spot dimension. With current and future projected technology, laser spot dimensions of the order of 1 micron or less are possible. Thus, the present invention may be used for both large portions of resistors (i.e., a product of F and L exceeds about 1 micron) and small portions of resistors (i.e., a product of F and L does not exceed about 1 micron).

The resistor 20 is shown in FIG. 1 as coupled to a substrate 30. The substrate 30 may be, inter alia, a semiconductor substrate that includes semiconductor material or a semiconductor device. The substrate 30 may include an insulator 32. The resistor 20 may be conductively coupled (using, inter alia, conductively plated vias, etc.) to internal electronic structure (e.g., transistors, wiring, etc.) within the substrate 30. The substrate 30 may also include a plate 40 (e.g., a metal plate) to absorb laser radiation 14 that bypasses, or passes through, the resistor 20. A portion of the insulator 32 is disposed between the resistor 20 and the plate 40. The plate 40 serves to protect vulnerable structures (e.g., transistors, wiring, etc.) underneath the resistor 20 from being damaged or altered by the laser radiation 14. For example, the plate 40 protects the electrical structure 41 which may include, inter alia, transistors or wiring. The plate 40 should be sufficiently thick that the laser radiation 14 does not pass through a total thickness of the plate 40. A minimum thickness of the plate 40 depends on a material composition of the plate 40 and on the energy flux of the laser radiation 14. A representative range of minimum thickness of the plate 40 includes, inter alia, about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, with a nominal thickness of about 0.5 microns.

In some applications, it is desirable to adjust R₂ to match a predetermined target resistance R_(t) for the electrical resistance of the resistor 20. The target resistance R_(t) is based on the pertinent application. For example, in an analog circuit R_(t) may be a function of a capacitance in the circuit, wherein for the given capacitance, R_(t) has a value that constrains the width of a resonance peak to a predetermined upper limit. In practice, the resistor 20 may be fabricated as coupled to the substrate 30 and the predetermined resistance R_(t), together with an associated resistance tolerance ΔR_(t), may be provided for the intended application. Then the resistor 20 is exposed to the laser radiation 14, wherein the time of exposure t₂−t₁ may be selected based on any method or criteria designed to obtain R₂ as being within R_(t)±ΔR_(t) (i.e., R_(t)−ΔR_(t)≦R₂≦R_(t)+ΔR_(t)). For example, calibration curves derived from prior experience may be used for determining the time of exposure t₂−t₁ that results in R₂ being within R_(t)±ΔR_(t).

After the resistor 20 has been exposed for the time of exposure t₂−t₁, the resistor 20 may be tested to determine whether R₂ is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t). If R₂ is not within R_(t)±ΔR_(t) as determined by the testing, then an iterative procedure involving additional exposure to the laser radiation 14 may be used to change R₂ to a value that is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t). Such an iterative procedure can be used only if the resistor 20 has been underexposed, rather than overexposed or sufficiently exposed, to the laser radiation 14, since a value of R₂ that results from overexposure or sufficient exposure cannot be further changed to within R_(t)±ΔR_(t) by additional exposure. Mathematically, underexposure is characterized by (R₂−R₁)(R_(t)−R₂)>0, overexposure is characterized by (R₂−R₁)(R_(t)−R₂)<0, and sufficient exposure is characterized by (R₂−R₁)(R_(t)−R₂)=0. Thus if the resistor 20 has been underexposed, the iteration procedure may be utilized such that each iteration of the iteration procedure includes:

additionally exposing the fraction F of the length L of the resistor 20 to the laser radiation 14, resulting in a new electrical resistance R₂′ of the resistor 20; and

additionally testing the resistor 20 after the additionally exposing step to determine whether R₂′ is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t), and ending the iteration procedure if R₂′ is within R_(t)±ΔR₁ or if (R₂′−R_(t))(R_(t)−R₂′)≦0.

An alternative testing procedure includes testing the resistor 20 in situ during the exposing of the resistor 20 to the laser radiation 14, regardless of whether the laser radiation 14 is a continuous laser radiation or a pulsed laser radiation. The testing during the exposing of the resistor 20 to the laser radiation 14 determines continuously or periodically whether R₂″ is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t), wherein R₂″ is the latest resistance of the resistor 20 as determined by the testing. The testing is terminated if R₂″ is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t) or if (R₂″−R₁) (R_(t)−R₂″)≦0.

FIG. 2 illustrates a one-layer embodiment of the resistor 20 of FIG. 1 prior to being irradiated with the laser radiation 14. In FIG. 2, the resistor 20 comprises the layer 29. The first portion 21 of the resistor 20 includes cells 24 and 26, which are respectively included within the blocks 71 and 73 of FIG. 1. The second portion 22 of the resistor 20 includes cell 25, which is within the block 72 of FIG. 1. The cell 25 is disposed between the cell 24 and the cell 26. The layer 29 includes an electrically conductive material that is capable of having its electrical resistance changed by the laser radiation 14 of FIG. 1. Cell 25, but not cells 24 and 26, will be subsequently irradiated by the laser radiation 14.

FIG. 3 illustrates the one-layer embodiment of the resistor 20 of FIG. 2 after the cell 25 has been irradiated with the laser radiation 14 of FIG. 1. The irradiation has transformed the cell 25 into two cells, namely cells 25A and cell 27. Cells 27 and 25A are each disposed between the cell 24 and the cell 26. Cell 27 represents a portion of the cell 25 that has been structurally changed by the laser radiation 14. Cell 25A is a remaining portion of cell 25 that has not been changed (i.e., unreacted) by the laser radiation 14 and thus includes the same material, structurally and chemically, as in cell 25. Thus, the electrical resistance R₂ of the laser-exposed resistor 20 differs from the initial electrical resistance R₁ because cell 27 includes the electrically conductive material of cell 25 as structurally transformed, as discussed in the following examples. In a first example, the electrically conductive material of the layer 29, and thus of the cell 25, may be an amorphous metallic material including, inter alia, an amorphous metal or an amorphous metallic alloy such as titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum silicon nitride (TaSiN), tungsten nitride (WN), wherein the amorphous metallic material has been changed by the laser radiation 14 into a crystalline metallic material in cell 27. In a second example, the electrically conductive material of the layer 29, and thus of the cell 25, may be a polycrystalline metal, wherein a first phase of the polycrystalline metal has been changed by the laser radiation 14 into a second phase of the polycrystalline metal in cell 27. To illustrate, a tetragonal phase (β-Ta) of the polycrystalline metal tantalum, which has a bulk resistivity of about 200 μohm-cm, may be changed by the laser radiation 14 into a body-centered cubic phase (α-Ta), which has a bulk resistivity of about 20 μohm-cm. Note that upon a presence of impurities, it is possible for the reverse transformation to occur upon exposure to the laser radiation 14; i.e., for the body-centered cubic phase (α-Ta) of the polycrystalline metal tantalum to be changed into the tetragonal phase (β-Ta). In a third example, a metallic oxide comprising an metal oxide or a metallic alloy oxide may be irradiated and heated by laser radiation 14 to generate the metal or metallic alloy and oxygen gas. To illustrate, platinum oxide (PtO_(X)) where the subscript X is in a range of 0.5-1.5, palladium oxide (PdO), irridium oxide (IrO₂), or platinum palladium oxide (PtPdO_(Z)—oxides of a platinum palladium alloy) each may be irradiated and heated by laser radiation 14 to generate the metal platinum (Pt), the metal palladium (Pd), the metal irridium (Ir), or the metallic alloy platinum palladium (PtPd), respectively, and oxygen gas (O₂), wherein the platinum, palladium, irridium, and platinum palladium each have a lower resistance than platinum oxide, palladium oxide, irridium oxide, and platinum palladium oxide, respectively (i.e., R₂<R₁).

The magnitude of the resistance change R₂−R₁ in FIG. 3 is a function of a thickness δ of the cell 27. δ increases as the time of exposure t₂−t₁ increases until the resistor 20 has been fully reacted, after which δ will no longer increase. If the resistor 20 has been fully reacted, all of the electrically conductive material of cell 25 may have been structurally changed by the laser radiation 14 such that the cell 25A does not appear in FIG. 3; i.e., δ is increased such that the cell 27 occupies the entire space of cell 25A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates a two-layer embodiment of the resistor 20 of FIG. 1 prior to being irradiated with the laser radiation 14. In FIG. 4, the resistor 20 comprises the layers 44 and 45, wherein the layer 44 is in electrically conductive contact with the layer 45. The first portion 21 of the resistor 20 includes cells 51 and 53 in the layer 44, and cells 54 and 56 in the layer 45. The block 71 of FIG. 1 includes the cells 51 and 54, and the block 73 of FIG. 1 includes the cells 53 and 56. The second portion 22 of the resistor 20 includes a cell 52 in the layer 44 and a cell 55 in the layer 45. The block 72 of FIG. 1 includes the cells 52 and 55. The layer 44 (including the cells 51, 52, and 53) includes a first electrically conductive material. The layer 45 (including the cells 54, 55, and 56) includes a second electrically conductive material. Cells 52 and 55 (but not cells 51, 54, 53, and 56) will be subsequently irradiated by the laser radiation 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates the two-layer embodiment of the resistor 20 of FIG. 4 after the cells 52 and 55 have been irradiated with the laser radiation 14. By heating the first electrically conductive material in the cell 52 and the second electrically conductive material in the cell 55, the laser radiation 14 has caused the first electrically conductive material in the cell 52 to chemically react with the second electrically conductive material in the cell 55 to form a third electrically conductive material at an interface of the cell 52 and the cell 55. The third electrically conductive material comprises a chemical combination of the first electrically conductive material and the second electrically conductive material. Accordingly, FIG. 5 shows the cells 52 and 55 of FIG. 4 as having been transformed into the cells 52A, 57, and 55A. Cell 52A is an unreacted portion of cell 52 and includes the first electrically conductive material as unreacted. Cell 55A is an unreacted portion of cell 55 and includes the second electrically conductive material as unreacted. Cell 57 includes the third electrically conductive material formed by the aforementioned chemical reaction between portions of the first electrically conductive material and the second electrically conductive material. Thus, the electrical resistance R₂ of the laser-exposed resistor 20 differs from the initial electrical resistance R₁ because cell 57 includes the third electrically conductive material which has a different electrical resistivity from that of the first electrically conductive material and the second electrically conductive material. In a first example in which R₂>R₁, the first electrically conductive material includes titanium, the second electrically conductive material includes aluminum, and the third electrically conductive material includes titanium trialuminide. In a second example in which R₂<R₁, the first electrically conductive material includes cobalt, the second electrically conductive material includes silicon, and the third electrically conductive material includes cobalt silicide. In addition to the preceding examples for the first, second, and third electrically conductive materials, many other possible materials, as are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, could be used for the first, second, and third electrically conductive materials. The magnitude of the resistance change R₂−R₁ is a function of a thickness δ′ of the cell 57. δ′ increases as the time of exposure t₂−t₁ increases until the cells 52 and 55 have fully reacted, after which δ′ will no longer increase. If the resistor 20 has been fully reacted, all of the first electrically conductive material of cell 52 and/or all of the second electrically conductive material of the cell 55 may have been participated in the chemical reaction that generated the third electrically conductive material of cell 57. If all of the first electrically conductive material of cell 52 participated in the aforementioned chemical reaction, then the cell 52A does not appear in FIG. 5 and δ′ is increased such that the cell 57 occupies the entire space of cell 52A in FIG. 5. If all of the second electrically conductive material of cell 55 participated in the aforementioned chemical reaction, then the cell 55A does not appear in FIG. 5 and δ′ is increased such that the cell 57 occupies the entire space of cell 55A in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a multi-layer embodiment of the resistor 20 of FIG. 1 prior to being irradiated with the laser radiation 14. In FIG. 6, the resistor 20 comprises N layers, namely layers 1, 2, . . . , N, wherein N is at least 2. Layer J is in electrically conductive contact with layer J+1 for J=1, 2, . . . , N−1. Layer K includes an electrically conductive material M_(K) for K=1, 2, . . . , N. The block 71 of FIG. 1 of the first portion 21 of the resistor 20 includes N cells as shown in FIG. 6. The block 73 of FIG. 1 of the first portion 21 of the resistor 20 includes N cells as shown in FIG. 6. The block 72 of FIG. 1 of the second portion 22 of the resistor 20 includes N cells as shown in FIG. 6 and hereby denoted as cells C₁, C₂, . . . , C_(N). Note that cell C_(K) is in the portion 22 of layer K for K=1, 2, . . . , N. The N cells of the second portion 22 (but not the cells of the first portion 21) will be subsequently irradiated by the laser radiation 14.

FIG. 7 illustrates the multi-layer embodiment of the resistor 20 of FIG. 6 after being irradiated with the laser radiation 14. By heating the cells C₁, C₂, . . . , C_(N) of the portion 22, the laser radiation 14 may have caused the electrically conductive material M_(K) in cell C_(K) and the electrically conductive material M_(K+1) in cell C_(K+1) to chemically react to form an electrically conductive material C_(K,K+1) at an interface between cells C_(K) and C_(K+1), wherein K=1, 2, . . . , N−1. The electrically conductive material M_(K,K+1) comprises a chemical combination of the electrically conductive materials M_(K) and M_(K+1) of cells C_(K) and C_(K+1), respectively. Accordingly, FIG. 7 shows the cells C₁, . . . , C_(K), . . . , C_(N) of FIG. 6 as having been transformed into the cells C₁′, C_(1,2), C₂′, . . . C_(k)′, C_(K,K+1), C_(K+1)′, . . . , C_(N−N)′, C_(N−1,N), and C_(N)′. Cells C₁′, C₂′, . . . C_(n)′ represent an unreacted portion of cells C₁, C₂, . . . , C_(N), respectively. Cell C_(K,K+1) includes the material M_(K,K+1) formed by the aforementioned chemical reaction between the material M_(K) of cell C_(K) and the material M_(K+1) of cell C_(K+1) for K=1,2, . . . , N−1. Thus, the electrical resistance R₂ of the laser-exposed resistor 20 differs from the initial electrical resistance R₁ because cell C_(K,K+1) (for K=1, 2, . . . , N−1) includes the electrically conductive material M_(K,K+1) which has a different electrical resistivity from that of the materials M_(K) and M_(K+1). The magnitude of the resistance change R₂−R₁ is a function of the thicknesses δ_(K) of the cells C_(K,K+1) for K=1, 2, . . . , N−1. The thicknesses δ_(K) increase as the time of exposure t₂−t₁ increases until the cells C₁, C₂, . . . , C_(N) have fully reacted, after which the thicknesses δ_(K) will no longer increase. If the second portion 22 of the resistor 20 has been fully reacted, all of the electrically conductive material of the cell C₁, C₂, . . . , C_(N), or combinations thereof may have participated in the chemical reaction that generated the cells C_(K,K+1) for K=1, 2, . . . , N−1. If all of the electrically conductive material of the cell C_(K) (K=1, 2, . . . , N) participated in the aforementioned chemical reaction, then the cell C_(K)′ does not appear in FIG. 7 and the thickness δ_(K) of the cell C_(K,K+1) is increased such that the cell C_(K,K+1) includes the entire space of cell C_(K) in FIG. 7. Note that cell C_(K) and cell C_(K+1) may not chemically react for every K of K=1, 2, . . . , N−1, because the laser radiation 14 may not be sufficiently energetic for some materials M_(K) and M_(K+1) to chemically react. Thus the cell C_(K,K+1) may not be formed for each K of K=1, 2, . . . , N−1.

Note the two-layer embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 represent a special case of N=2 of the multi-layer embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.

FIG. 8 illustrates the electronic structure of FIG. 1 after the resistor 20 has been irradiated with the laser radiation 14 and an electrical circuit element 66 has been conductively coupled to the resistor 20 by interfacing conductive contacts 62 and 64. As a result, an electrical circuit 68 has been formed, wherein the electrical circuit 68 comprises the electrical circuit element 66 and the resistor 20.

While the embodiments of the present invention, as depicted in FIGS. 1-8 and described herein, relate to shining a laser beam on, and heating, a fraction F of a length L of a resistor, the formulation presented herein is equally applicable to shining the laser beam on, and heating, the fraction F of an area A of the resistor. In this latter formulation, L (and related lengths such as L_(1A), L₂, L_(1B), etc.) could be replaced by A (and corresponding related areas) in the text of the detailed description presented herein. Also, linear dimensions in terms of microns for the length L formulation should by replaced by area dimension of microns×microns for the area (A) formulation. For example, the statement supra that “the present invention may be used for both large portions of resistors (i.e., a product of F and L exceeds about 1 micron) and small portions of resistors (i.e., a product of F and L does not exceed about 1 micron)” should be replaced for the area (A) formulation by a statement that “the present invention may be used for both large portions of resistors (i.e., a product of F and A exceeds about 1 micron×1 micron) and small portions of resistors (i.e., a product of F and A does not exceed about 1 micron×1 micron).” Additionally, any claims presented infra herein in terms of the length (L) formulation are intended to be broadly interpreted in terms of both the length (L) formulation and the area (A) formulation.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

1. A method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor, comprising: providing the resistor having a length L and a first electrical resistance R₁; and exposing a portion of the resistor to a laser radiation for a time of exposure, wherein the portion of the resistor includes a fraction F or the length L, wherein at an end of the time of exposure the resistor has a second electrical resistance R₂, and wherein R₂ is unequal to R₁, and wherein after completion of said exposing the portion of the resistor to the laser radiation for the time of exposure, the portion of the resistor continues to be comprised by the resistor and contributes to the second electrical resistance R₂, wherein the resistor in the providing step includes N layers denoted an layers 1, 2, . . . , N, wherein N is at least 2, wherein layer I includes an electrically conductive material M₁ for I=1, 2, . . . , N, wherein layer J is in electrically conductive contact with layer J+1 for J=1, 2, . . . , −1, wherein the exposing step causes a portion of the electrically conductive material M_(K) to react with a portion of the electrically conductive material M_(K+1) to form an electrically conductive cell C_(K,K+1) within the portion of the resistor, and wherein K is selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, . . . , −1, and combinations thereof.
 2. A method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor, comprising: providing the resistor having a length L and a first electrical resistance R₁; and exposing a portion of the resistor to a laser radiation for a time of exposure, wherein the portion of the resistor includes a fraction F of the length L, wherein at an end of the time of exposure the resistor has a second electrical resistance R₂, and wherein R₂ is unequal to R₁, and wherein after completion of said exposing the portion of the resistor to the laser radiation for the time of exposure, the portion of the resistor continues to be comprised by the resistor and contributes to the second electrical resistance R₂, wherein the substrate includes an insulator and a metal plate, and an electrical structure comprising at least one of electrical wiring and a transistor, wherein the insulator is disposed between the resistor and the metal plate, wherein the metal plate is disposed between the resistor and the electrical structure, and wherein the metal plate is sufficiently thick so as to absorb a sufficient portion of the laser radiation to protect the electrical structure from the laser radiation.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein F=1, and wherein at the end of the exposing step the resistor has partially reacted with the laser radiation.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein F=1, and wherein at the end of the exposing step the resistor has fully reacted with the laser radiation.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein F<1, and wherein at the end of the exposing step the resistor has partially reacted with the laser radiation.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein F<1, and wherein at the end of the exposing step the resistor has fully reacted with the laser radiation.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein R₂>R₁.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein R₂<R₁.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein a product of F and L does not exceed about 1 micron.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the resistor in the providing step includes an amorphous metallic material, wherein the exposing step transforms a portion of the amorphous metallic material into a crystalline metallic material within the portion of the resistor.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein the resistor in the providing step includes a polycrystalline metal, wherein the exposing step transforms a first crystalline phase of the polycrystalline metal into a second crystalline phase of the polycrystalline metal within the portion of the resistor.
 12. The method of claim 2, wherein the resistor in the providing step includes a metallic oxide selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide and a metallic alloy oxide, wherein the exposing step reacts a portion of the metallic oxide to form a metallic component and oxygen gas within the portion of the resistor, wherein the metallic component is the metal if the metallic oxide is the metal oxide, and wherein the metallic component is the metallic alloy if the metallic oxide is the metallic alloy oxide.
 13. The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing a predetermined target resistance in terms of a value R_(t) and a tolerance ΔR_(t) for the second electrical resistance; and testing the resistor after the exposing step to determine whether the second electrical resistance is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t).
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein during the testing step the second electrical resistance is not within R_(t)±ΔR_(t), and further comprising if (R₂−R₁)(R₁−R₂)>0 iterating such that each iteration of the iterating includes additionally testing the resistor during the exposing step to determine whether R₂″ is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t), and ending the iterating if R₂″ is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t), or if (R₂″−R₁)(R₁−R₂″)<0, wherein R₂″ is a latest value of the second electrical resistance as determined by the testing.
 15. The method of claim 2, wherein the laser radiation is selected from the group consisting of a continuous laser radiation and a pulsed laser radiation.
 16. The method of claim 2, further comprising: conductively coupling a first electrically conductive contact to the resistor; conductively coupling a second electrically conductive contact to the resistor; and conductively coupling an electrical circuit element to the first electrically conductive contact and to the second electrically conductive, wherein an electrical circuit is formed such that the electrical circuit includes the electrical circuit element and the resistor.
 17. A method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor, comprising: providing the resistor having a length L and a first electrical resistance R₁; exposing a portion of the resistor to a laser radiation for a time of exposure, wherein the portion of the resistor includes a fraction F of the length L, wherein at an end of the time of exposure the resistor has a second electrical resistance R₂. and wherein R₂ is unequal to R₁, and wherein after completion of said exposing the portion of the resistor to the laser radiation for the time of exposure, the portion of the resistor continues to be comprised by the resistor and contributes to the second electrical resistance R₂; providing a predetermined target resistance in terms of a value R_(t)and a tolerance ΔR_(t)for the second electrical resistance; and testing the resistor after said exposing to determine whether the second electrical resistance is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t).
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: if said testing determines that the second electrical resistance is not within R_(t)±ΔR_(t), and if (R₂−R₁)(R₁−R₂)>0 then additionally exposing the portion of the resistor to the laser radiation for an additional period of time, resulting in the resistor having a third electrical resistance.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: if said testing determines that the second electrical resistance is not within R_(t)±ΔR_(t), and if (R₂−R₁)(R₁−R₂)>0 then iterating such that each iteration of the iterating includes: additionally exposing the portion of the resistor to the laser radiation for an additional period of time, resulting in the resistor having a new electrical resistance R₂′; testing the resistor after said additionally exposing to determine whether R₂′ is within R_(t) ±ΔR_(t), and ending the iterating if R₂′ is within R_(t)±ΔR_(t) or if (R₂−R₁)(R₁−R₂′)>0. 